A Buddhist monk assists to teach IT for rural youth

Asian Tribune, Aug 23, 2006

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Buddhist monk, who works as a lecturer of Sri Lanka Vidyalaya, Colombo now assists rural youth to become IT specialists and seeks financial assistance to improve the vocational center.

<< Rev. Dehigahahene Jinaloka

The IT centre, setup by Rev.Dehigahahene Jinaloka plans to assist youths to find suitable jobs with the help of Colombo based philanthropists. "We do not have telephones, Internet or any other new innovations," said the venerable.

Rev. Dehigahahene, a resident monk of Sri Sudarmananda Viharaya, Dehigahahena said he started a computer vocational training center to assist jobless youth at the Dehigahahena – a rural hamlet, which situated along the Matara-Hambantota border.

"We received used computers and some other assistance from local businessmen. Now we train 60 youth in IT," said Rev. Jinaloka, who even spends his monthly salary to train jobless youth in new techniques.

Dehigahahena lacks a school, a Post Office or any other representative government agency, excluding Grama Niladhari. The hamlet needs road facilities, he said.

Unemployment percentage is still high at this hamlet, but the Buddhist monk wants to send his IT trainees to multinational companies. Plans are underway to modernize this training center and improve the temple with other religious segments. At present the monk planned to erect a Dagoba, which costs around 1.5 million rupees.

"I have plans to assist these youth to find suitable jobs with the help of Colombo based philanthropists. We do not have telephones, Internet or any other new innovations," he said.

"We have some assistance from area residents, who engaged in plantations. Tea is their main income earner," the monk said.

He said the local and international community could assist his projects, providing technical support, knowledge based support and financial assistance.

Philanthropists or well-wishers willing to assist the monk may reach him dialing 00 – 94 -779349138.